Festilivres de Monéteau

Festilivres, the essential meeting place for Burgundy bibliophiles

Since 1992, every last Sunday of October, the town of Monéteau, five kilometers north of Auxerre in the Yonne department, transforms into the regional capital of books. Festilivres, organized by the volunteers of the ANICOM association, has become over the years the largest book market in Burgundy, a title it has proudly held for over three decades.

The event takes place at the Espace Skenet'Eau and in the municipal gymnasiums on Rue d'Auxerre, offering over 1,000 linear meters of exhibition space spread across 2,000 m² of rooms, in addition to outdoor stands. This generous space allows for two distinct but complementary events to be held simultaneously: the large book sale and the authors' fair.

The book sale: a market for all tastes

The popular heart of Festilivres is its sale of old, new, and used books. Over 120 exhibitors from all over France—booksellers, collectors, specialized booksellers, literary dealers—set up their stalls from 8 am. The offering is exceptionally rich:

• Old and collectible books: 19th-century works, first editions, illustrated books, precious bindings
• Comic books: more than a quarter of the exhibitors specialize in comics, covering all eras and genres—classic Franco-Belgian, manga, American comics, underground, and independent
• New and used books: novels, essays, fine arts, science, children's literature, crime fiction, in all genres and for all ages
• Old postcards and philately: a section popular with regional and national collectors
• Old posters, prints, and newspapers: for lovers of history and popular culture
• Vinyl records: a musical offering that complements the cultural universe of the event
• Bookbinding and restoration: book artisans present to inform and advise

A free appraisal service for old books and comics is offered to visitors, allowing everyone to have books from their personal library evaluated by experts present on site.

The authors' and publishers' fair

In addition to the book sale, the Espace Skenet'Eau hosts an annual fair bringing together over 40 to 50 authors and publishers who offer signings and meetings with the public. The diversity of genres represented is one of Festilivres' hallmarks: regional novels, crime fiction, fantasy, comics, children's literature, poetry, local history, essays—all areas of writing find their place here.

Among the regularly invited authors are renowned writers from the Burgundian and national literary scene. Visitors can discover emerging voices as well as established authors, in an intimate and accessible atmosphere that fosters direct dialogue between readers and creators.

Exhibitions and activities

Festilivres is not limited to buying and selling: the event offers annual cultural exhibitions organized by ANICOM and its partners. Painters from the association's drawing and painting class exhibit their works, blending visual art and literary art in a harmony unique to the spirit of the event.

A program of activities for children, particularly focusing on shared reading with the 'Lire et Faire Lire' initiative, introduces the youngest to the pleasure of books. Book artisans—calligraphers, graphic designers, bookbinders—sometimes demonstrate their skills, reminding us that the book is also an object of art and craftsmanship.

On-site catering

Catering services and a refreshment stand are available on-site all day, allowing visitors to recharge between book discoveries. The friendly and family atmosphere is one of the constants of Festilivres, which welcomes several thousand visitors each year from all over Burgundy and beyond.

ANICOM, the driving force behind Festilivres

Behind Festilivres, there is above all a team of passionate volunteers united within the ANICOM association, based in Monéteau. ANICOM—which also organizes other cultural events in the town, including the Venetian Carnival—embodies associative commitment to local cultural life. It is thanks to this volunteer investment, renewed for over thirty years, that Festilivres has remained true to its founding values: free admission, accessibility for all, and promotion of books in all their forms.

Monéteau, at the gates of Auxerre

Festilivres benefits from the privileged geographical location of Monéteau, a dynamic town in the Auxerre urban area, crossed by the Yonne river and well-served by the A6 motorway. Its proximity to Auxerre—the prefecture of the Yonne department and a city of art and history—makes it a natural stop to combine a day of books with exploring Burgundian heritage: Saint-Étienne Cathedral, Saint-Germain Abbey, the medieval old town with its half-timbered houses.